African violet plant named Little Violet Sapphire

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Little Violet Sapphire characterized by its miniature growth habit; large, purplish blue, star-shaped flowers with long petals; strong stems which curve toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; profuse and continuous flowering; bright green, serrated, spear-shaped leaves; flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Little Violet Sapphire.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation K 1/48 and is a product of a planned breedingprogram. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by me in thecontrolled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany. Thefemale, or seed parent was a cultivar designated 4 Mini. The male, orpollen parent was a cultivar designated H/25.

Little Violet Sapphire was discovered and selected by me as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Haffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byleaf cuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Little Violet Sapphire has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. The following observations, measurements and values describe thenew cultivar as grown in a 4 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany andNashville, Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Little Violet Sapphire, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Little Violet Sapphire will not grow taller than 8 cm.

(2) Large, star-shaped, purplish blue flowers with long petals.

(3) Strong wirelike and upright flower stems curving toward the center.

(4) First flash of flowers form a tight bouquet above the leaves.

(5) Profuse flowering; under good growing conditions continuousflowering.

(6) Each plant carries 6-8 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 3-4 and more flowers.

(7) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(8) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after planting unrooted shoot.

(9) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(10) Bright green, serrated, hairy leaves.

(11) Spear-shaped leaves are 2.0 to 3.5 cm in size.

(12) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the peduncle.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar grown in a 4 cm pot. The colors appearing inthe photograph are as true as possible with color illustrations of thistype.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), except where general colors ofordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 1 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. LittleViolet Sapphire.

Parentage:

Male parent.--H/25.

Female parent.-4 Mini.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 6 cm to 8 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately 8-11cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--14. General form: Spear-shaped. Diameter: 23-26 mm wide and30-35 mm long. Texture: Leatherlike. Aspect: Shiny, hairy, serrated.Veins: Upperside: visible: underside: well pronounced, light greenshiny. Color (upperside): Green Group 137 C. Color (underside:Greyed-Green Group 194 C. Petiole: Strong, green with brownish touch,hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Size: 3-4 mm just before opening. Shape: Bell-shaped.Color: Purplish. Sepals: Five (5). Color: Green with brownish touch.Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped. Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle:Character: Strong upright, hairy. Color: Brownish green. Individualflowers: Size: 27-33 mm. Shape: Star-shaped with long petals. Color(upperside): Between Violet-Group 87 A and 88 A. Under coolertemperatures and more intensive lighting, the purplish blue tends tointensify. Color (underside): Between Violet-Group 87 B to C and 88 B toC. Borne: Each flower stem carries 3-4 and more flowers on strong,upright peduncle that are free standing above the leaves, therebyforming a compact bouquet. Flowering habit: Flowers 10-11 weeks afterplanting an unrooted plantlet.

Reproductive organs.13 Stamens: Five (5). Anthers: 5 composed of 10anther cells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowishgreen, 2-3 mm long. Styles: 5-7 mm long, purplish blue, base of ovarylight green and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Little Violet Sapphire is a super miniatureviolet, which does not grow taller than 8 cm. The large purplish blueflowers are star-shaped and have long petals. The flowers arelong-lasting and non-dropping. Occasionally, an additional very smallpetal develops in the center. Under good growing conditions LittleViolet Sapphire will bloom continuously. A nice bouquet of flowers freestanding above the bright green, serrated, spear-shaped leaves developsapproximately 10-11 weeks after planting an unrooted plantlet. Each ofthe 6-8 and more strong flower stems carries 3-4 and more flowers.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named LittleViolet Sapphire, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized by its miniature growth habit; large, purplish blue,star-shaped flowers with long petals; strong stems which curve towardthe center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; profuse andcontinuous flowering; bright green, spear-shaped leaves; Flowering 10-11weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its long lasting andnon-dropping flowers.